| It may be said that he had no interest other than the work assigned by his mentor. His life was the perfect specimen of the manasa pooja as described by Shri Shankaracharya in “Shiva Manasa Pooja”.
“You are my Self,
and intellect verily, is Girija,
Companions are the breaths;
body, verily, is the abode.
Sense experience is adoration;
sleep, verily, is samadhi.
Walking on feet is Pradakshina;
worship, verily, is wisdom.
Every action I perform, O Shambho,
all those are for your propitiation.
Shri Martand Manik Prabhu had special affection for this boy. He had given him all the education. He studied law and qualified as a High Court Pleader. In selecting him as the administrator, Shreeji could not have made a better choice to take care of the changing times. A life time of spiritual and temporal induction made him an exceptional choice for the Gadi.
He authoritatively took charge of the affairs, yet there was no trace of arrogance in him. On taking over the Gadi, the personality of Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu changed dramatically. His inbuilt humility endeared him to all. He had no unkind word for anybody. Even when he disagreed, it would be couched in the mildest of words.
He had identified with Shri Manik Prabhu’s ideal to the fullest extent and he knew the role which had been assigned to him. Even when some would disagree with him, he would in all humility say, “I am after all the servant of Shri Manik Prabhu. Whatever he impels me to do, I do. Even if you do not agree with what I say, or do not desire to give respect to me, at least give respect to the Gadi, the Padukas and the memory of Shreeji”.
He was a scholar and had studied all the scriptures. His philosophical essays show the depth of his assimilation of the basic principles of Advaita philosophy. He was a regular writer in “Tattvadnyan Mandir” a monthly magazine dedicated to philosophy published by the Indian Institute of Philosophy at Amalner. He had also cultivated considerable interest in Astrology, Medicine and Music.
One may say that after the dominating personality of Shri Martand Manik Prabhu, the period of Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu came like a breather, to consolidate the vision of Shri Martand Manik Prabhu but those who had come to know him closely were impressed by his immense organizational capability, but for which the entire edifice so devotedly raised by Shri Martand Manik Prabhu would not have been sustained. It was possible that this was fully realised by Shri Martand Manik Prabhu himself and that was the reason of his being designated as the successor to the Gadi.
Consequently, he created a new awareness among the devotees of Maniknagar. The number of devotees visiting Maniknagar increased. He was available to every one. None would return without meeting him and receiving his blessings. His interest in education made him start a school in Maniknagar, where, along with modern education, emphasis was also given to religious, ethical and cultural education. The school was named as “Manik Vidyalaya” and Shreeji took personal interest in the day to day affairs of the school. There is nothing like the all-around development of human personality. His emphasis therefore was to impress the devotees visiting Maniknagar that the place was a Shakti-sthala, the center of energy from where each one could draw his energy. It is more important that one should also intellectually understand the Message given by Shri Manik Prabhu and assimilate it in one’s daily life. He had made his own life the symbol of humility, which is born out of wisdom of the Universality of the Supreme Self. Therefore, he would encourage intelligent discussion on the teachings of the previous Peethadhipatis.
Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu undertook extensive tours and travels to propagate the message of Shri Prabhu’s Sampradaya. Where ever he went he was received with great love, devotion, respect and honour. His tours to Raichur, Narayanpeth, Bhongeer, Yadgeer and Tandur have a very special significance in the history of Manik Prabhu Samsthan.
Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu was, however, not destined to lead the Sampradaya for long. His innumerable duties which were assigned to him from his very childhood had tired him physically. While the spirit in him rose to fulfil the role assigned to him, his body could not sustain the ravages of time. When the time came for him to leave on the 28th of February 1945, he already had a son Siddharaj, who was hardly six years of age, whom he left to the loving care of his wife and the compassionate grace of Shri Manik Prabhu.
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